NuHub Partners With Holtec International To Compete For $452M Department Of Energy Grant For South Carolina

Partnership Supports Construction at Savannah River Site and Jobs in SC

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Apr 24, 2012, 09:45 ET

COLUMBIA, S.C., April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- NuHub has partnered with Holtec International, Inc., a diversified energy technology company supplying equipment and systems for the nuclear, solar, geothermal and fossil power generation sectors of the energy industry, to compete for one of two federal grants from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for small modular reactor (SMR) development. The recently announced federal award, totaling up to $452 million will support engineering, design certification and licensing for up to two prototype SMR designs. Winning the award would expedite the development, licensing, construction, commissioning and operation of Holtec's flagship reactor, named SMR-160, at the Savannah River Site (SRS).

NuHub was launched in October 2010 by EngenuitySC as a consortium of public, private, higher education and business development interests sharing a common goal of maximizing the economic and job creation impact of the nuclear renaissance on the Midstate of South Carolina.

"One of NuHub's core goals is to position the Midstate as a hub for SMR activity including jobs, research, training and manufacturing," said Sonny White, co-chair of NuHub and President of Midlands Technical College. "We look forward to partnering with Holtec International and leveraging South Carolina's assets and expertise in nuclear energy."

"We are pleased to partner with NuHub to help incubate the SMR technology in South Carolina," said Pierre Oneid, President of SMR, LLC, a subsidiary of Holtec International. "The coalition of industry, academic and community leadership represented by NuHub and the strongly supportive nuclear culture in the Palmetto state presents an ideal opportunity for us to build our first SMR-160 at the Savannah River Site. With help from NuHub and the state we hope to establish a local manufacturing facility for building reactor components in South Carolina that replicates our existing fabrication capabilities in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida."

As a global leader in power generation technologies, Holtec has designed an indigenously developed SMR. Holtec's SMR-160 is a 160 MW pressurized water reactor that has been designed to withstand the most severe natural disasters by relying on gravity under all operating and emergency conditions. Holtec International hails DOE's support for SMR development and NuHub's willingness to support the operation of prototype SMR designs in South Carolina.

"The Department of Energy's Savannah River Site and Savannah River National Laboratory are uniquely qualified to support the innovation, research and demonstration of small modular reactor designs proposed by Holtec and other reactor vendors," said Dr. Terry Michalske, Executive Vice President of SRNS and SRNL Director. "We have the capacity and technical know-how to team with all interested vendors, and we are especially pleased to work with Holtec and NuHub to assist in testing and evaluating innovative reactor designs that address our nation's clean energy challenges."

NuHub earlier announced a similar agreement with NuScale Power LLC. NuHub intends to support applications from both Holtec and NuScale for the U.S. DOE SMR program.

About NuHub
NuHub, an initiative of EngenuitySC, is a collaborative group of public, private, higher education and workforce development stakeholders working to maximize economic and job creation opportunities for the nuclear industry in the Midstate region of South Carolina, and to establish the Midstate as a hub and global leader for nuclear energy innovation. Please visit www .NuHubSC .com for more information.

About EngenuitySC
Headquartered in Columbia, EngenuitySC is public/private partnership formed to develop and grow the South Carolina Midlands' knowledge-based economy by fostering an environment where entrepreneurship, innovation, and the creation of knowledge are fundamental elements of the region's culture, identity, and economic development strategy. Through collaboration with business, government, and higher education, EngenuitySC leads initiatives that support research development, promote commercialization, and leverage the region's assets. Please visit www .EngenuitySC .com for more information.

About Holtec International, Inc.
Holtec International is a world leader in nuclear technologies with ongoing projects in the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Ukraine, China, Korea, Belgium, Sweden and Switzerland. The Company is carrying out some of the most challenging nuclear projects around the world including the de-fueling of Chernobyl's shuttered reactors. The equipment and systems supplied by Holtec to its worldwide clients are largely based on the Company's own patents and proprietary technologies. The Company is the largest exporter of capital equipment in the US and is recognized as the operator of manufacturing plants in three states with an excellent record of safety. Please visit www .holtecinternational .com for more information.